The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters celebrates Ozarks with Governor Mike Kehoe

The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters enjoyed a night of down home celebration with almost 200 friends, new and old, at their first ever fundraiser—"For the Love of the Ozarks: Preserving the Place We Call Home.” The speaker for the event was Governor of the State of Missouri and fellow Hillcrofter, Mike Kehoe. Governor Kehoe, who participated with the Hillcrofters in the partial restoration of the one-room Garber Schoolhouse, praised the work of the Hillcrofters. He recalled growing up in North St. Louis where he knew “next to nothing” about life in rural Missouri. Over the years, he discovered that Ozarks values were consistent with his own, and Governor Kehoe remarked that he’s “passionate about keeping Missouri values alive.” The Governor continued, “When you join an organization like this, you start helping other Mike Kehoes who don’t understand what our history and our culture are about, what our music is about, what our land is about, and you give the opportunity to preserve those and showcase [our values], and that’s why I’m so passionate.” Governor Kehoe also talked about the economic benefits to the state from historical tourism—tourism is second only to agriculture in terms of the economy of Missouri—and he highlighted the efforts of the Hillcrofters with regard to the restoration of historical sites. He concluded by urging attendees to join the Hillcrofters, “We want you to understand that the Hillcrofters are an all-volunteer organization, and we’d love you to consider joining.” 

The occasion for the event was the publication of the Society’s new journal, “Ozarkian Hillcrofter.” The journal is a stunning, four-color publication that features stories, articles and photographs of the Ozarks. Tammy Morton, former teacher and historian in Hollister Public Schools, serves as the editor, and she and her committee were both singled out for the quality of the journal. Members of the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters receive the quarterly journal as a benefit of their membership. 

Other speakers at the event were Hayden Head, president of the board, who welcomed guests to the gala; Curtis Copeland, chairman of the board, who presented a brief history of the Hillcrofters; and Larry Sifford, vice-president of the board, who introduced Governor Kehoe and made an appeal for donations to the Society’s ongoing restoration projects. Sifford has been a longtime friend of Governor Kehoe since their time together at a Ford dealership in St. Louis, and he was largely responsible for the Governor’s presence at the gala. The depth of their friendship was apparent in both Sifford’s introduction and the Governor’s remarks.

Entertainment was provided by Hawken and Emily Boldman, aka “Glade Top," who performed old time Ozarks music on guitar and fiddle. They were joined in a couple numbers by Lillyanne McCool on banjo. Governor Kehoe applauded these young people, not only for their musical artistry, but also for their commitment to preserving traditional Ozarks music.

The event was held on October 7, in the Silver Dollar City Parlor at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks. In the true tradition of Hard Work U, the staff and students created a beautiful space for guests to visit and dine, and as always, the service and food were excellent. Curtis Copeland, founder of the revived Hillcrofters, expressed his pleasure at the event, saying, “I couldn’t be more thankful for the outpouring of support at our first-ever Hillcrofter gala, ‘For the Love of the Ozarks.’ To see so many people gather under one roof to celebrate the land and folks that make this region special was something I’ll never forget. My sincere thanks go to everyone who attended, and to the many volunteers who put their hearts and hands into making the evening such a success. This gathering reminded us why we do what we do—to honor our past, preserve our stories, and keep the spirit of the Ozarks alive for generations to come." 

"I'm proud to say that both John and I, along with our son Montie are members of this great organization," said Luanna Fullerton. "Exciting things are happening within the group. Come join us! Looking forward to next year's gala."

For more information on becoming or supporting the Ozark Hillcrofters, visit The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters Facebook page or societyofozarkianhillcrofters.com.